Hub City Village

Hub City Village will be the first tiny house community in Albany, OR that addresses the needs of our unhoused neighbors. The village will operate using a cooperative model where each resident agrees to shoulder responsibilities for governance and maintenance of the village.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this affordable to the Residents?
  • Housing will be affordable – all residents will pay rent, but rent will be no more than 30% of income.
  • Residents must have a source of income – either fixed (SSI, SSDI, retirement) or from a job
  • Residents will pay, on average, between $250-$350 per month and it will cover utility expenses, maintenance, and all other operating costs. Residents will be members of a housing cooperative and will have a share in the village. 
  • Fifty dollars of the monthly rent will be held in a savings account, and when the total in that account reaches $2000, the $50 will be dropped from the monthly rent. That $2000 will be held until the resident decides to move out of the villages, giving the resident a deposit or down payment on other housing. 
How will you choose who lives in the village?
  • This will be a multi-organizational effort. We’ll work with the Adult Services Team to identify candidates. The Adult Services Team is comprised of a number of service organizations in Linn County.
Can you get evicted?
  • Yes, if the resident breaks the lease. This will be decided by the village board members, although CHC board members will have final authority.
Who will pay for the Village?
  • CHC hopes to have at least half the cost to build donated by using in-kind donations from area contractors and tradespeople. The rest will come from fundraising efforts. 
Is this Transitional Housing?
  • The homes are permanent housing. They’re built on a foundation and have heat, hot water, electricity, a bathroom, kitchenette, and a bedroom/living area. 
  • The village will be centered around a community building, which will house washers and dryers, and a large kitchen and dining area that the residents can use when they need more space. Classes and events will also be held there. 
  • There will be a community garden so residents can grow their own food.
  • The village will be solar-powered to reduce costs.
  • Wifi will also be available.
Who will live in the Village?

  • We are still working on program development, but the first residents of the village will be chosen with the help of the Adult Services Team.

  • Everyone who will live in the village will be carefully screened to ensure they’ll be appropriate and compatible with the community.

  • The village will be self-governed. The residents will be responsible for making and enforcing the rules and dealing with behavioral issues. They’ll use restorative justice, which emphasizes accountability, making amends, and — if they are interested — facilitated meetings between victims, offenders, and other persons. The board members of the co-op will be specially trained in the facilitation of restorative justice and de-escalation strategies.

  • A broad range of people – veterans, seniors, disabled, youth aging out of foster care, people with chronic but manageable health issues, individuals, or small families who have lost housing due to affordability issues.
  • There will also be a specially trained peer support coordinator living on-site to connect residents with needed services.
How much does it cost to build a tiny home?
  • The average cost to build a home is approximately $50,000.
Who will manage the Village?
  • The village will be managed by the residents and will use a cooperative model. It will be a democratic community in which each person has a voice in shaping how the community is operated and managed — creating a foundational sense of ownership on which the village thrives
  • A community agreement will outline a basic code of conduct that all residents must abide by, and requires that each resident participates in helping to manage the village.
  • The community will have a board of directors made up of residents of the village. They will set up and enforce rules and bylaws.
  • The board of directors will be trained in restorative justice, which is a method of conflict resolution.
How will this help Albany?

  • By reducing homelessness, the village will save the city money by reducing costs for needed services. Some examples of this are:

    • Lower cost to the healthcare system by reducing the use of emergency rooms. Studies show that having stable housing is a predictor of fewer trips to the emergency room. Also, stable housing assists in helping residents manage chronic health conditions before it becomes an emergency.
    • Fewer complaints about loitering and other misdemeanors made to the police department.
    • Fewer calls to the fire department and ambulance.
    • Residents will become contributing members of the Albany community.
    • Albany residents can feel satisfaction in becoming part of the solution by spreading compassion and hope to those in the community who are less fortunate. 

“Intense love does not measure, it just gives.”

– Mother Teresa